STAMFORD — The Stamford Police Department held its annual Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony on Thursday, remembering four officers who lost their lives over the years while protecting city residents.

Officers, city officials and families of Officers George D. Kelley, William M. McNamara, Andrew Louis Schlechtweg and David D. Troy gathered in the police department’s front parking lot to honor the officers’ ultimate sacrifice.

For attendees, the event was not to focus on how their loved ones died, but how they lived.

“As we commemorate this memorial day, we honor the discipline and distinction of our police officers that they have been continually called upon to remain vigilant and take courageous action,” director of public safety Ted Jankowski said at the ceremony.

Standing in front of the station’s flagpole, officers placed a wreath on the stone memorial commemorating the fallen men as well as raise a new American flag.

Stamford High School’s madrigal singers attended the event to sing America’s national anthem. There were also performances from bagpipers.

"We gather here at this annual police memorial ceremony to remember and honor those who have lost their lives in the line of duty and to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to the families of those who have sacrificed,” Jankowski said.

Although he was unable to attend, Mayor David Martin submitted a proclamation to Jankowski to read naming May 15 Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Martin said each year, the department salutes men and women who commit themselves to a difficult, dangerous and often thankless line of work to safeguard the people of Stamford.

"We recognize that to their families, we owe an unpayable debt, and to the men and women who carry their mission forward we owe our unyielding support,” said Martin.

Stamford assistant chief of police James Matheny said the department can never repay the families for the sacrifices their loved ones have made.

Kelley joined the police department in 1923. In 1937, he was appointed to be a member of the station's Motorcycle Motor Patrol Squad.

On July 8, 1938, Kelley was on duty riding his motorcycle on Jefferson Street when his bike skidded and threw him against the front bumper of a delivery truck.

He died instantly of multiple injuries at the age of 39.

McNamara was 31 years old and a member of the police department for four years when he was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 18, 1973.

Following a liquor store robbery on Washington Boulevard, McNamara and his partner tracked the robber to a nearby hotel lobby.

McNamara's partner saw the suspect holding a clerk at gunpoint and shot the armed robber in the arm, causing him to fall to the floor.

Police said McNamara was attempting to corner the suspect by coming at him through different room. McNamara's partner saw a gun out of the corner of his eye and accidently shot McNamara in the chest.

McNamara was transported to Stamford Hospital for surgery, where he died of his injuries.

He was a four-year veteran of the Navy.

"These officers shunned a life of comfort and ease and instead awoke every morning, donned a badge and put their lives at risk for all of us,” Matheny said.

As a 13-year veteran of the police department, Schlechtweg was killed in a motorcycle accident on May 26, 1938.

Schlechtweg, a member of the department's Motorcycle Motor Patrol Squad, was on duty riding his motorcycle on Post Road near Courtland Avenue when a car hit him.

The crash caused Schlechtweg to slide 46 feet across Post Road on his motorcycle.

He was taken to Stamford Hospital for treatment, where he was later pronounced dead of a compound fracture to the skull.

Schlechtweg was a Navy veteran who served in World War II.

On July 7, 1960, Troy was shot and killed after chasing a man who robbed a restaurant into an alley behind Main Street, near Greyrock Place.

The armed robber was hiding on a second floor porch above Troy when he shot down at him, police said.

The two exchanged gunfire, with Troy hitting the man in the leg.

Troy, who was 27 years old at the time of the incident, was shot in the chest and abdomen. He crawled under a truck for cover, where he was found by his partner.

He was taken to the Stamford Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

Troy was a member of the department for two years.

"They lived full lives, have loved and lost, happiness and heartache as well all do, but each of them consciously made a decision on their final day to put on that badge and uniform to go where others would flee and in doing so, they laid down their lives so that we may enjoy peace,” said Matheny.